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Not sure why people are finding this hard to believe.

Whether you think this is right or wrong, Thai people in the tourist industry can't be trusted any more and they're crap salespeople.

Farangs on a party island will bring in much more money to the bar in questions, so why wouldn't they pay an extra 20K per month for a young English girl if they're making 100K per month extra on top of this.

How many people just ignore a Thai PR person when they're trying to sell you something. I know the guy said this girl was ugly, but the ones I saw on Phi Phi were smoking hot and guaranteed to bring in huge custom to the bars they work in.

Lots of Euro workers in Koh Phi Phi when I was there.

They're PR girls and help bring in more punters.

One actually PR'd for a tattoo parlour.

And when I say bring in more punters I mean young backpackers/holidaymakers. Not sex tourists lol

Just like what they do in Ibiza, etc.

Perfect guys, thanks.

Does anyone know what animal the eggs come from at the salad counter in Tops supermarket on Huay Kaew Rd?

They're tiny and I doubt they're chicken eggs.

And you should think you're special.

Nothing wrong with that

Just a quick question. Were their passports written on at all next to the visa stamp? Two English friends of mine have just come back from a run and both have had a Number 1 in pen and then circled placed next to the visa stamp (saw it myself). They could not get an adequate explanation at the border given huge numbers being processed during this holiday period. Both got thirty days but are worried that the writing is a quick an easy visual of your border runs and that they could come a cropper later on.

You're only allowed 4 visa runs before you need to leave the country and go to a Thai consulate (Laos, Malaysia, etc)

They've started enforcing this and after number 4 they won't get any more.

Once they've had a new visa they can do it again starting at number 1.

I managed to get 7 at one time then got told to leave, but obviously by having a number in a circle next to each stamp they're getting serious again.

I didn't have a number written next to my stamp on 7th March. Maybe I'm special. As far as I'm aware there is no official limit either - just that some border posts enforce unofficial limits.

I wouldn't hold your breathe.

You might get to your thirdt attempt and if you get the wrong person behind the desk they'll look through your passport and give you a 1, 2 and 3.

Or you might get away with 7 of them like I did once.

Unnofficlal or not, Mai Sai definitely have a policy in place and they sometimes enforce it.

Just a quick question. Were their passports written on at all next to the visa stamp? Two English friends of mine have just come back from a run and both have had a Number 1 in pen and then circled placed next to the visa stamp (saw it myself). They could not get an adequate explanation at the border given huge numbers being processed during this holiday period. Both got thirty days but are worried that the writing is a quick an easy visual of your border runs and that they could come a cropper later on.

You're only allowed 4 visa runs before you need to leave the country and go to a Thai consulate (Laos, Malaysia, etc)

They've started enforcing this and after number 4 they won't get any more.

Once they've had a new visa they can do it again starting at number 1.

I managed to get 7 at one time then got told to leave, but obviously by having a number in a circle next to each stamp they're getting serious again.

I'm UK13.

I can always find big enough flip flops, but I think I might be easier sending over from abroad.

MacWalen,

I want to take a course towards the middle of the year. Of course for the visa, but also because I now feel I must be able to speak and read Thai.

Can you confirm you teach people to read Thai?

For some reason I thought it was just speaking.

I don't really care about writing, but I suppose I'll learn if it's part of course.

I have big feet and I'd like to buy a pair of plimsolls for the gym (Chuck Taylors or just a basic pair will do)

But I'm having a hard time locating anything. I don't want to spend 5000bht on a pair of sports trainers because I don't do cardio anyway.

Thought I'd ask here before I just order at home and get some sent across.

I was lying sleeping in my bed one night.

I had those windows open you wind up and down, but there was a wire meshing behind the windows.

Somehow I woke up and I could see this guy staring at me through my curtain with his hand trying to open my door from the inside.

The little sh*t had used a knife to cut away at the wire meshing and I hate to think what would have happened if I woke up 2 minutes later with someone in my room with a knife in their hand.

I can put money into BB without a passport, but can't take it out without one.

Listen to what the last guy posted above your comment.

You actually need the domain names sitting in your account.

It's not about your name being on the registar. It's about who has access to them.

I'll keep most of my funds in UK, but I just feel a little safer now knowing if I go into the thousands of pounds they won't disappear.

Made me smile.

The fact you said this also makes me smile haha

I'm now a lot more confident about keeping money in a Thai bank.

Also, don't forget the site builder doesn't actually need control of your domain names.

As long as your domain names (in your personal domian registrar account) DNS are pointing to your hosting account the website builder will be able to do everything he needs.

If you're lucky he maybe just controls your domain names to save you hassle and so he looks like he is providing more value for what you're paying him. Some builders will offer a complete package because it makes things easier for non-tech people to just concentrate on their business.

But set up your own account and get him to transfer them over to you asap.

I'm not sure I agree with the people above mentioning WHOIS.

Sure, your name might be the one registered on the account and it will show up in WHOIS (if domain privacy hasn't been added), but this doesn't mean you own the names unless they're physically in your own account.

At the end of the day you might end up with the names back after a lengthy legal battle because you do actually run the websites, but the builder could shut down your sites while this is all taking place.

I'm not trying to scare you by the way (well I guess I kind of am), but I just want you to transfer the names to your own account so you don't end up getting screwed in future.

When I say cancelled I mean I've set up my card so it can't be used online/in stores because I've never had the need to do it before. There always seems to be a cash machine around and for bigger purchases I'd use my UK card.

How does one cancel that function? Can this be done at an ATM?

Just walk into a BB branch and speak to the people who set up accounts rather than the tellers.

There is always two ticket options on the machine.

When you sit down at the desk just tell the person you want to block every way to use the card apart from ATM withdrawls.

Then nobody will be able to do anything should you lose your card (unless they know your pin number)

I'm not sure where the quote came from ha

I think it was a Be First switched to a Be First Smart (with chip)

You can only use them with BB cash machines, but they're a hundred times harder to swipe pin.

Thanks for this!

Actually what happens when you use this card for purchasing goods? Are you prompted to enter your pin in the terminal or do you just sign the slip, like one does with the Be1st Card?

I've actually cancelled that so I have no idea what the answer would be.

I just think it's safer with only the cash machine withdrawl function.

When I say cancelled I mean I've set up my card so it can't be used online/in stores because I've never had the need to do it before. There always seems to be a cash machine around and for bigger purchases I'd use my UK card.

I think it was a Be First switched to a Be First Smart (with chip)

You can only use them with BB cash machines, but they're a hundred times harder to swipe pin.

You desperately need him to give you the domain names.

That's what I discovered when I had my problem. My bankrupt host had control of my domain name. I then took control of it and retain ownership via the registrar.

It's not just about a bankrupt host.

The guy literally has him by the balls and whether he realizes it or not the website builder actually owns his business.

The website builder could easily turn around and say give me 100K or your websites are gone.

But yeah, if you're worried about hosts go with Moniker because they're ICANN registered and your domain names will be safe. You can even add extra security with Moniker so someone would need your personal details (passport), a phone call answering personal questions you set, and absolute proof it's you.

It's too easy for someone to hack into somewhere like GoDaddy and transfer your domain, so don't let it happen if you value your business.

I recently switched my BB card to a chip and pin one because they're obviously a lot safer, but I'm more worried about how much I should keep in my account in general.

Probably because I've heard horror stories of bank employees looting accounts, etc.

I tested withdrawing some money recently and they did ask for my passport which I was happy with, but would you keep £1000-5000 in a Thai bank account or would you not risk it?

You desperately need him to give you the domain names.

As you said, content is nothing because of backups.

The domain names are everything, but I suspect you'll need to give him some 'cash'.

If you get an account with the same domain name provider he can push them over to you and you can lock them in.

You can also get them sent to another domain name provider and I'd go with someone like Moniker or NameCheap.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I agree with Bahtboy, I also send money monthly from Santander Bank in the Uk via Bangkok Bank London Branch to my Bangkok Bank account. No problems at all and relatively cheap and a quick service.

That really is going around the houses! you should be sending it direct to Bangkok bank in Thailand as sterling and let the Thai side convert it to Baht. You can do that with Nat West online and probably Santander as well if they let you do international transfers. You'd probably still pay £20 fee but it is more direct and is there in 4-5 days. faster if you are willing to pay a higher fee.

Doing that will incur higher fees and 3,4 days before the money is received.

By using BB the transfer will be made within 24 hours.

Any UK bank will permit fee free transfers to BB London ----------that is not an international transfer.

However, do as you please or as the Thais say "up to you" !

I only pay £20 fee to send money from NatWest to Bank Ayudhya as sterling, If you are letting bangkok Bank London convert the funds to baht then you are also losing out on the exchange rate, you get a better rate of exchange in Thailand than from any bank in London.

I think you can pay £15 and get the London exchange rate, or if you pay £20 they send sterling to Thailand and convert there.

I transfer money on a regular monthly basis from my Natwest account to Bangkok Bank in London. It gets transferred from there to my account in Bangkok Bank Thailand within 24 hours. i.e. If I transfer to BKK Bank before normal banking hours close in UK (4pm UK time I think) then it appears in my account in Thailand at approx 10am Thai time the next day. Bangkok bank London deduct 20GBP fee before they send the money to Thailand. You can set this up online by going to your Natwest account online,and follow the following steps:-

The boxes in which you enter the info are not easy to understand. (Different terminology) Hopefully this will clarify.

1) Go to Account summary screen.

2) Click on Payments and Transfers on lhs.

3) Click on Make a payment or transfer.

4) Click on Pay Someone new.

5)In the pop up box you'll see 4 areas to fill in:-

1) Name of the person or Company. Here you must enter your name exactly as it appears on your Bangkok Bank Thai passbook.

2) Their account number. Here enter 92 00 20 00 if you wish to transfer pounds sterling to Thailand (best)..

3)Their sort code. Here enter 60 93 98 (That is Bangkok Bank London's sort code.)

4) Their reference. Here enter your 10 digit account number as shown on your BKK Bank passbook, FOLLOWED by BKKBTHBK (e.g. 1234567890BKKBTHBK)

When you've completed all boxes click on "Add payee".

Next time you click on Make a payment or transfer (stage 3 above) you will see your name and account no (as in 4 above) in the drop down list of payees.

It took me a long time to figure out how to do this first time because Natwest terminology isn't the same as Bangkok bank's terminology, so i hope my explanation helps you along. Once set up it's easy peasy. Regards, bahtboy.

Amazing advice, mate.

I did see the info on BB website, but like you said the boxes are complely different inside Natwest online banking. But you've just explained everything perfectly.